Power-operated mechanism



April 6, 1948. J. R. NALBACH :r AL 2,439,262

` POWER OPERATED MECHANISM Fild oct. ze, 194.4" 5 sheets-sheet 1 www mw um..

xllmnll April 6, 1948. J. R. NALBACH er AL l 2,439,262

POWER OPERATED MECHANISM Filed Oct. 26, 1944 `3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll/If IIIIIIII April 6, 1948. J. R. NALBACH Err A| POWER OPERATED MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 26, 1944 #WMV WM.. mx Mh NN @WM lllll .1S mw Jiffy.'

Patented Apr. 6, 1948 UNITED ermee i? IC -`lohn allxacli, 'a'k rBark, William Gresham, Chcago, Ill.

Gated ififi'ifhiig Hemi-@Finire eiereblve for d df plastic material cast '1" niolde' about medesime., n, Y.,

da gediend-e1 abject fth inten en is repre@ vide nearer/ed means fer trai;jslating;y dtary movement of driving means eaxtendingl into'ja tulfy bular casing atonfe end theredffhint roking movernt in an elern'et z'itendng Troni the otlr ei "of the casiii U i otieebjecn er tne ;nveritrdn are te :provide rn ns fer conforming bushing' t0"V member e :croi/ide a loste fitltherelb' Wit.' A toiran'e variations;

gambled readiiywwitnin a simileqtupuiar casing;

tien' ci tire fclllvving slcicati'n and acconpanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a broken perspective View of a power ep'eratec'r toothbrush actuating mechanism which is iilustrative of the prsent invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional vier? of the' anotio'n-` translating imechanism'` with the' rear portion thereof broken avvayj Figure s' is a 'similar with the forward por; tion broken away and taken n a plane at riht angles tlre plaine' of Figure 2; I

Figa 4 is 1; enlarged transverse sectional vie-9i teren L9 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is df casing "ving therein mediada forni df moteri translating" apparatus;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 bit ta'lf a broken longitudinal sectional View .seing ,elements Y 2 on 'a plane at right rangles to the section plane of Figure 5.

Figure '7 'is a; sectional view taken on line T-'l of Figure' 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional View 'taken on line 3 8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a broken longitudinal sectional View ef a casing having therein a; 'further modication of thev motion translating mechanism:

Figure 10 is a View similar to Figure 9 but taken on plane at right angles t6 the section f AFigurev 9':

Inth'e drawings the 'apiiaratus therein shown 4for illustrative purposes comprises a manually manipulable nieniber, indicated generally by the numeral l0, which constitutes a casing for tll'e improved mechanism Ihereinafter desciibe. Such I'rrechanisni is adapted to be 'operated by a' flexible shaft H which is driven by motor I2 that may be remo'vably suspended from a" Wallattached,` preferably resilient, bracket i3 by means df vibration-insulating rin'g l'4 lof rubbei" or the iike tlat is' attached tothe upper'ntl bi the inolor casing'.

The 'r'nechnisn" Within' the handle IBV operates anyA` appropriate element that is faldadt'e''i to beY releasabiy attached rden Idetdateig mefider le extending forwardly from theeasing I9'.` In the present iuus'trau'dn '0f the invention the ele;

ment svripwn is teeth brush It, but it will be apparent from avqodsv'idrdieddf tnqspeifica'; non 1d`19ajit1ier` 'sippie lements' may be opfer; ated by the mechanism, such massaging, per: isling", shaving or likelernents. l Y Y remedies `2, 3 and 4 f tuedrwme the manen trans rnechanisi sfil'lustr'ated i within ne medipuiatdbie @eddie indictdgerl: een the le. nenne@ i9 shovi conp es a hand grip Qortion vvitl'in which a siibl tubular casing 4i8 is enclosed, x cept at the ends thereof Where the ca's'ig'pi'o jects' beyond the grin. Thellandy grip portion of the handle m preferably is formed "of plague eompdsaioid that may b molded about the tube i9 although, if desired, it may be* pre-:feried and thereafter chalrnb'rd to1 receive the tubular cal# new.' o.

- ing. After assembly of the two parts, the bushing is radially compressed at its outer portion into contact with the bearing surface of the bearing I 9 as shown in Figure 2. A substantially perfect fit between the two members is thereby obtained.

The bushing 2i) is positioned within the forward end of the tubular casing I8 and the latter is then compressed radially into contact with the curved surface of the bushing to retain it against outward displacement during use. although the bushing can be forced from the tube by suitable pressure exerted on the inner end thereof. Such removal may be required for replacement or repair purposes. The tube I8 preferably is of cold drawn brass or other suitable seamless metal tube stock having the working characteristic required. The actuating member I5 and bearing I9 are oscillatable in the seat of the latter provided by the bushing 25. Rearward movement of the bushing is restrained by any suitable means, as by a depression 2I formed in the casing I8 at the rear end of the bushing. Forward movement of the actuating member I5 through the bearing is prevented and proper positioning of the bearing on the member I5 is provided by a shoulder 22 provided on the actuator I5 and which contacts the rear plane face of the bearing. Rearward movement of the member I5 with reference to the bearing is prevented by providing a pressed fit between them or by other means. as by upsettin g the metal of the actuator at the forward edge of the bearing as shown at I5a.

Novel mechanism is provided for oscillating the actuator I5 and bearing I9 in the seat of the latter for effecting the operation of the operated element, such as the toothbrush I 6 which is removably carried on the forward end of the actuator. The mechanism for operating the actuator I5 comprises simple means that are insertable longitudinally in the tubular casing I8 for translating rotary movement of a motor driven member into rocking or oscillatory movement in the actuator l5. The translating mechanism comprises a bushing 23 which is positioned within the casing I 3 and secured in position against rotation by having a pressed t within the casing or by a set-screw 24 orl the like as shown in Figure 2. The bushing provides a bearing for a driven shaft 25 having a head 25 from which extends an eccentric in the form of a pin 2'I having a semi-spherical forward end. The bushing 23, in the form' illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 is slotted or bifurcated at its forward end to provide a pair of forwardly extending guides 28 having spaced parallel plane guiding surfaces 29. Between the surfaces 29 opposed plane faces 35 of a head or enlargement 3l of the inner end of the actuator arm I5 have contact for guiding the rocking movement of the latter. The head 3! of the actuator arm is provided with a transverse slot 32 in a plane normal to the planes of the faces 5D, the distance between the horizontal faces 33 of the slot 32 being suiicient to receive the pin 21 for point 4 contact of the latter with each of the faces 33.

The guide extensions 23 permit rocking movement of the actuator arm I5 in a single plane only as the eccentric rotates and hence the arm rocks the operated element, such as the brush I6, about the bearing I5 as a pivot or fulcrum point.

The rear end of the shaft 25 projects from the bushing 23 and may be milled as shown in Figure 2, if desired, and press-fitted into a cylindrical recess 34 within the forward portion of a, coupler member 35. The remaining portion of the coupler is shown with an axial passage that is shown as square in cross-section for receiving the square end piece or driving tang 36 of the flexible helical driving member 31 located within the non-rotatable sheath 38 of the shaft assembly II. The inner end of the sheath 35 extends into an axial passage 39 of a sleeve 43 which preferably has a pressed nt with the rear Vend of the tubular casing I3. The inner end portion of the passage 39 is threaded, as indicated at 4I and -into engagement with said threads the fabric sheath is adapted to be turned for releasably retaining the tang 35 in operative driving relation within the cooperating passage of the coupler 35.

At the rear end of the handle l5 a exible member 42 is shown, preferably made of rubber, that rmly grips the adjacent portion of the sheath 38 and also the Vrear projecting end of the casing I8 as shown in Figure 2. The member 42 resists acute bendingv of the flexible shaft in use and by the gripping action thereof on both the shaft II and the end of the handle assembly resists accidental separation thereof. An ornamental ferrule 43 is shown in Figures 1 and 3 enclosing the forward end of theV member 42.

The forward end of the handle is provided with means for sealing the same to prevent entrance into the mechanism of foreign matter, such as tooth paste, or powder, water, massaging cream or the like. The sealing means shown comprises an elastic member 44 that at its for- `ward end grips the actuator arm I5 and at its inner end is distended over into snugly fitting relation with the adjacent end of the casing I8. An ornamental ferrule 45, similar to ferrule 43, is provided for embracing the rear end of the seal 44as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The working portion of the actuator arm I5 that projects beyond the seal 44 may be provided with any suitable means for releasably engaging the element to be operated. In the structure shown in the drawings the wall ofthe actuator I5 extending beyond the sealing member 44 is tapered and at the extreme forward end is provided with a tang 45 that is arranged to` seat in a suitably shaped recess 46 in the hollow shank or shaft of the operated element to prevent relative rotation of one with respect to the other. A tooth brush I5 being the operated element shown in the drawing, the shank 4l thereof has an internal tapered passage 48 slightly smaller over-all than the dimension of the tapered portion of the actuator arm I5 and is shown with a slit 49 along an element of the shank to provide sucient expansibility to permit the tapered portion of the arm to be pressed snugly into frictional gripping engagement with the shank for releasably retaining the brush on the arm I5 with the tang 45 within a socket 45 in the inner end of the receiving passage 48 to prevent relative rotation of the brush with respect to the arm.

separately from the bushing t9 and is secured in a casing 'it as by staking as indicated at 8i;

The' rear end of the actuator t1 is provided with a semi-cylindrical slotJ 32 extending transversely of said end and into which the forwardly projecting portion of the ball S' is seated. The ball 66 being eccentrically mounted with reference to the axis of rotation of the shaft 68, revolves about said axis during operation of the shaft and hence produces rocking movement of the actuator 6i about the bearing 68 as a pivot. During such operation the ball 6% has back and forth movement within the transverse slot 82. The radius of the ball lit preferably is such as to cause it to iit closely within its receiving socket in the head 65 and also to correspond to the curvature of the transverse slot 32 whereby knocking of the motion translating structure is avoided during operation of the mechanism. A suitable annular spring S3 is shown abutting the bearing 68 and against which an adjacent shoulder 84 bears to permit slight axial movement of the actuator S1 during operation thereof to avoid binding of the ball 66 in the receiving recesses thereof and permits the latter to be of a curvature corresponding to the exterior curvature of the ball.

In the forms of the invention shown in Figures 5 to 11, inclusive, the casings preferably are provided with hand grips molded in situ thereon and exteriorly may correspond to the structure more particularly described above and shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. In all the forms of the invention disclosed the parts of the motion translating mechanisms can readily be assembled within the cylindrical casings shown, notwithstanding that the diameters thereof are relatively small in instances where the invention is used in light weight devices, hand manipulated device, as tooth brush or like operating mechanisms.

While We have shown and described a structure that is illustrative of the improvements, variations in the structure may be utilized within the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A hand manipulable device comprising a tubular casing, a bushing within said casing havingan axial passage for a rotatable shaft and having a pair of end members provided with parallel spaced-apart guiding walls, a rotatable shaft in said passage provided with an eccentric rotatable in the space between said guiding walls, an oscillatable bearing in said casing, and a rockable arm in said bearing and having a working end extending to the exterior of said casing at one end of the latter and having a head at the other end disposed in the space between said guiding walls, said head having parallel walls arranged for sliding contact with said guiding Walls of said bushing and having atransverse slot normal to the planes of said guiding walls and receiving said eccentric whereby rotation of the latter effects guided rocking movement of said arm about the axis of said oscillatable bearing.

2. A hand manipulable device comprising a tubular metal casing, a bushing in said casing provided With an axial passage for a rotatable shaft, a rotatable shaft in said passage provided with a rotatable eccentric projecting from one end thereof, an arm pivotally mounted in said casing having a working end portion extending to the exterior of the casing through one end thereof and having a head at the other end provided with a transverse slot receiving said eccentric wherebi7 rotation ofthe latter effects rocking movement of said arm, drive means extending into the other end of said casing for rotating said shaft, and means integral with said bushing comprising a pair of members constituting guide means for constraining the movementsof said head to a single plane.

3. A hand manipulable member comprising a tubular casing, a bushing fitting the interior of said casing and provided with an axial passage therethrough, a rotatable shaft in said passage and provided with an eccentric at one end thereof, rotatable driving means for the shaft coupled to the other end thereof, an arm rockably journalled in said casing having a working end portion projecting from one end of the casingand provided with a headportion operatively engaging said eccentric whereby rotation of the latter effects rocking movement of said arm, and means comprising integral extensions of said bushing provided with parallel plane walls for constraining saidhead to movement in a single plane.

LA hand manipulable member comprising a tubular casing, a rockable arm journalled in said casing having a working end portion projecting from one end of the casing, said arm having a head at the other end provided with opposed plane parallel surfaces and a transverse slot disposed normal to the planes of said faces, a bushing in said casing having an axial passage therethrough and a slot at one end providing parallel guiding surfaces spaced apart and receiving therebetween said plane surfaces of said head for constraining the latter t0 move in a single plane, and a driven shaft in said passage provided with an eccentric extending from an end thereof into the slot cf said head for translating rotary movement of said shaft into rocking movement in said arm.

5. A hand manipulable device comprising a tubular casing, a rotatable shaft in the casing,ra rock arm in said casing provided with means pivotally supporting the same therein and having a working portion projecting through said means to the exterior of the casing, means in said casing spaced inwardly from said pivotal means for constraining saidV arm to move in a single plane, said arm having the inner end thereof disposed adjacent the forward end of said shaft and having a transverse recess therein, and an eccentric extending from the forward end of said shaft intoV said recess for slidable movement therein whereby rotation of said shaft is translated into rocking movement in said'arm. f

6. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a rotatable shaft journalled therein terminating at the forward end within said casing, a rock arm having an inner end disposed adjacent the forward end of said shaft and having a forward end extending from said casing, a rockable bearing for said arm journalled in said casing intermediate the ends of said arms, means in said casing spaced inwardly from said rockable `bearing constraining said arm for movement in a single plane, a transverse slot in said inner end of said arm curved in cross section, and an eccentric carried by the forward end of said shaft having a curved surface portion conforming to and seated Within said slot for sliding movement therein whereby rotation of the shaft leffects rocking movement of said arm.

7. A device for translating rotary movement to rocking movement comprising a rotary shaft, a

rock arm having an end disposed adjacent an 10 end of i'fhe shaft, said end of said'shaft having an REFERENCES CITED eccentrlcally located semi-spherlcal recess, said end of Said arm having a Sempcyundrical trans- The following references are of record in the verse slot corresponding in radius to the radius 0f this Patenti of said recess, and. a spherical .member lhaving a 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS radius corresponding substantially to the radu of said recess and slot and confined in said recess Numb Name Date and slot by the adjacency of said ends to provide 135,597 Dame Feb- 11, 1373 a revoiuble driving member operable by said shaft 395,332 Pethelck Jal-f1- 29, 1339 and reciprocable in said slot during the revolving 10 470,514 SmpSOl MER 3, 1392 action to effect rocking movement of said arm. 1,112,747 Wing@ OCt- 6 1914 1,286,015 Johnson L- Nov. 26, 1918 JOHN R. NALBACH. 1,454,511 Hermann May 8, 1923 WILLIAM F. GRESHAM. 2,107,090 Swennes Feb. 1, 1938 

